Cougars end regular season on high note

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 13, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

SANTEE (5-12-22) – Looking to gather some momentum before the playoffs start the Steele Canyon Cougars (16-11-1, 5-5 GHL) accomplished just that as they defeated the Santana Sultans (12-14, 4-6 GHL) 11-5 on Thursday afternoon in Grossmont Hills action.

Cougars slugger Jazmin Williams led the charge as she went 4-for-5 on the day as she drove in a pair of runs and scored four runs.

Williams and Abby Curran would both score in the top of the first inning when Kamea Seunarine hit a ball that was misplayed to make it 2-0. However, the Sultans would get a run back in the bottom of the inning when Kassidy Harper doubled in Samantha Sullivan to pull within 2-1.

Steele Canyon though would strike again in the top of the second inning as Williams and Curran would drive in runs as would Allyson Haessly to extend the lead to 5-1.

Breanna Lakin would add another run for the Cougars in the top of the fourth when she drove in Williams on a two-out single to make it 6-1.

Trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning the Sultans knew they needed to do something and Harper was able to create a spark as she belted a solo shot over the left-field fence to make it 6-2. Later in the inning, the Sultans would pull within 6-4 when Carissa Ruiz with two outs would double in both Kaitlyn Ours and McKenna Miller.

Steele Canyon would answer back in the top of the sixth inning when Curran started things off by doubling in Williams, she would come around to score on a base hit by Lakin to make it 8-4. The Cougars added another run on a sacrifice fly by Mariah Mata that allowed Haessly to trot home which gave them a 9-4 lead.

The Sultans would score what would be their final run in the bottom of the inning thanks to Harper who drove in Hailey Phillips.

Despite a five-run lead, the Cougars would add another pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning thanks to Williams who singled in Hailey Trujillo which was followed by a sacrifice fly by Curran that scored Madison Villaescuas.

Emma Shellstrom would finish things off for the Cougars as she retired the side in the bottom of the seventh inning.

For the Sultans, Astyn Niemiec took the loss as she allowed eleven runs of which six were earned over seven innings of work in which she walked one and struck out six.

Shellstrom for the Cougars picked up the victory as she allowed five runs of which all were earned on eleven hits in which she walked two and fanned four on the day.

Granite Hills 3, Grossmont 1
EL CAJON — On Senior Day, the Granite Hills Eagles (14-11-1, 4-6 GHL) rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning and tacked on a run late to procure the victory over the Grossmont Foothillers (12-15, 1-9 GHL) on Thursday afternoon.

Grossmont’s lone run of the contest came in the top of the third inning when Jade Daley would drive in Na’Khia Lee to give them a 1-0 lead with only one out in the inning. Despite a two-out single by Eliana Vasquez a couple of batters later the Hillers wouldn’t push across anything more in the inning.

Trailing 1-0 the Eagles had to get something going and indeed they did with two outs thanks to Sofia Mujica who on a 1-1 count took the offering and belted it over the left-field fence for her twelfth home run of the season to tie the game up at 1-1. Now with some momentum, the Eagles were able to continue it as Taylor Rose followed with a base hit to right field that would be misplayed by the right fielder which allowed Rose to advance to second base. Still two outs and Rose on second up came Audrey Smale who roped a double that allowed Rose to race around from second base and score to give the Eagles the lead 2-1.

As both teams pitching was keeping the other offense in check the Eagles would finally break thru in the bottom of the sixth inning as Smale led off with a triple to right field. She would come into score when Chloe Knepp was able to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

Rose would take the two-run lead and finish off the Hillers as she retired the side in the top of the seventh inning.

Taking the loss for the Foothillers was Caitlyn Potts who allowed three runs of which two were earned on four hits over six innings of work that saw her walk one and strike out four on the day.

For the Eagles, Rose allowed one run on six hits over seven innings of work that saw her strike out two on the day in the win.